In a hopeful sign for Wisconsin’s coronavirus response, the rate of positive tests fell to 2.9 percent — the lowest rate since the crisis began.
The drop comes a day after the state reported zero fatalities for the first time since early March. Six fatalities were reported Monday, bringing the state’s total death toll to 459.
Wisconsin now has had a total of 12,722 cases, according to Department of Health Services and county public health data, an increase of 151.
The largest increase in new cases today come from Milwaukee County, which reported only 67 cases after five days of triple-digit increases. The outbreak in Brown County seems to remain under control, as just six more cases were identified and less than two percent of tests came back positive — down from more than 59 percent just over a week ago. An outbreak at a meat packing plant in Green Bay has significantly increased the number of positive cases in Brown County, which have now reached 2,096 in the county. That’s a rate of 809 cases per 100,000 residents — far higher than the second-highest rate, 529 in Racine County.
Hotspots in Racine and Kenosha Counties seem to have cooled off over the weekend but may be flaring up again. Racine County reported just 17 new cases, but also 17 percent of tests came back positive. Similarly, Kenosha County reports just 10 new cases but 38 percent of tests came back positive.
Days after an outbreak at a long-term care facility led to an increase of 27 cases in three days, Dane County only reported 1 new case out of nearly 1,100 tests Monday.
Hospitalizations are up slightly: 380 people are currently hospitalized with coronavirus infection, up from 363 yesterday. Of those, 128 require intensive care. Additionally, 194 people are hospitalized awaiting test results.
The rate of disparity in Latino populations continues to stand out — 31 percent of total cases are now Latino people. Latinos make up just seven percent of the state’s overall population.
Similarly, 21 percent of all cases are Black people, who also make up just under 30 percent of deaths. Black people make up just six percent of the state’s population.
DHS also reports that 53 percent of those confirmed to have been infected have recovered and 3.7 percent have died.
